1
|
Quayle E, Larkin A, Schwannauer M, Varese F, Cartwright K, Chitsabesan P, Green V, Radford G, Richards C, Shafi S, Whelan P, Chan C, Hewins W, Newton A, Niebauer E, Sandys M, Ward J, Bucci S. Experiences of a digital health intervention for young people exposed to technology assisted sexual abuse: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:237. [PMID: 38549096 PMCID: PMC10979588 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05605-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence that Technology Assisted Sexual Abuse (TASA) represents a serious problem for large numbers of children. To date, there are very few evidence-based interventions available to young people (YP) after they have been exposed to this form of abuse, and access to support services remains a challenge. Digital tools such as smartphones have the potential to increase access to mental health support and may provide an opportunity for YP to both manage their distress and reduce the possibility of further victimization. The current study explores the acceptability of a digital health intervention (DHI; the i-Minds app) which is a theory-driven, co-produced, mentalization-based DHI designed for YP aged 12-18 who have experienced TASA. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 YP recruited through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre and an e-therapy provider who had access to the i-Minds app as part of a feasibility clinical trial. Interviews focused on the acceptability and usability of i-Minds and were coded to themes based on the Acceptability of Healthcare Interventions framework. RESULTS All participants found the i-Minds app acceptable. Many aspects of the app were seen as enjoyable and useful in helping YP understand their abuse, manage feelings, and change behavior. The app was seen as usable and easy to navigate, but for some participants the level of text was problematic and aspects of the content was, at times, emotionally distressing at times. CONCLUSIONS The i-Minds app is useful in the management of TASA and helping change some risk-related vulnerabilities. The app was designed, developed and evaluated with YP who had experienced TASA and this may account for the high levels of acceptability seen. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was registered on the ISRCTN registry on the 12/04/2022 as i-Minds: a digital intervention for young people exposed to online sexual abuse (ISRCTN43130832).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ethel Quayle
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amanda Larkin
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthias Schwannauer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Filippo Varese
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kim Cartwright
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Pauline Whelan
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Cindy Chan
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - William Hewins
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alice Newton
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Erica Niebauer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marina Sandys
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer Ward
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sandra Bucci
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Catching the catfish: Exploring gender and the Dark Tetrad as predictors of catfishing perpetration. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
3
|
Camerini AL, Marciano L, Annoni AM, Ort A, Petrocchi S. Exploring the Emotional Experience During Instant Messaging Among Young Adults: An Experimental Study Incorporating Physiological Correlates of Arousal. Front Psychol 2022; 13:840845. [PMID: 35444584 PMCID: PMC9015695 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Instant messaging (IM) is a highly diffused form of communication among younger populations, yet little is known about the emotional experience during IM. The present study aimed to investigate the emotional experience during IM by drawing on the Circumplex Model of Affect and measuring heart rate and electrodermal activity as indicators of arousal in addition to self-reported perceived emotional valence. Using an experimental design, we manipulated message latency (i.e., response after 1 min versus 7 min) and message valence (positive versus negative response). Based on data collected from 65 young adults (50% male; Mage = 23.28, SD = 3.75), we observed arousal as participants’ electrodermal activity levels increased from the time a fictitious peer started typing a response to the receipt of that response, especially in the delayed condition. Electrodermal activity levels also increased in both the positive and the negative message conditions. No changes were observed for heart rate. Participants’ self-report perceived emotional valence revealed that positive messages were evaluated as more pleasant and the peer as more available, while no difference in the self-report was found for message latency. These findings shed light on the emotional experience during IM by adding valuable insights on the physiological processes underlying the anticipation of social reward, but only during delayed IM exchange that can be observed in Human–Computer-Interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Linda Camerini
- Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Laura Marciano
- Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Anna Maria Annoni
- Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Ort
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Serena Petrocchi
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Petrocchi S, Marciano L, Annoni AM, Camerini AL. "What you say and how you say it" matters: An experimental evidence of the role of synchronicity, modality, and message valence during smartphone-mediated communication. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237846. [PMID: 32941439 PMCID: PMC7497981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, smartphone-Mediated Communication (SMC) has become a popular form of social interactions. The present experimental study manipulated three aspects of messaging in a WhatsApp chat as a form of SMC: synchronicity (immediate vs. time-lagged response), modality (with or without emojis), and valence (empathic accurate vs. empathic inaccurate response). The aim of this study was to investigate whether these three aspects had an impact on perceived social support, interpersonal trust, and personality attribution of the communication partner. The partial mediation of perceived social presence (the evaluation of the communication partner's accessibility) and subjective social presence (the perception of being concordant with him/her) was also examined. Participants were 160 young adults, balanced in gender. They were randomly assigned to different the experimental conditions where they engaged in a manipulated WhatsApp chat with a fictitious same-gender communication partner. Post-questionnaire data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Message valence (empathic accurate response) and modality (with emojis) significantly predicted higher levels of both forms of social presence. Synchronicity (immediate response) predicted higher levels of perceived but not subjective social presence. Social presence, in turn, was positively associated with social support, while subjective, but not perceived social presence, was positively associated with personality attribution. Neither perceived nor subjective social presence were related to interpersonal trust. Our results show that both what is said and how it is said impact the experience of interpersonal relations in SMC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Petrocchi
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Laura Marciano
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Anna Maria Annoni
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Linda Camerini
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ebner NC, Ellis DM, Lin T, Rocha HA, Yang H, Dommaraju S, Soliman A, Woodard DL, Turner GR, Spreng RN, Oliveira DS. Uncovering Susceptibility Risk to Online Deception in Aging. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2020; 75:522-533. [PMID: 29669133 PMCID: PMC8921760 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fraud in the aged is an emerging public health problem. An increasingly common form of deception is conducted online. However, identification of cognitive and socioemotional risk factors has not been undertaken yet. In this endeavor, this study extended previous work suggesting age effects on susceptibility to online deception. METHODS Susceptibility was operationalized as clicking on the link in simulated spear-phishing emails that young (18-37 years), young-old (62-74 years), and middle-old (75-89 years) Internet users received, without knowing that the emails were part of the study. Participants also indicated for a set of spear-phishing emails how likely they would click on the embedded link (susceptibility awareness) and completed cognitive and socioemotional measures to determine susceptibility risk profiles. RESULTS Higher susceptibility was associated with lower short-term episodic memory in middle-old users and with lower positive affect in young-old and middle-old users. Greater susceptibility awareness was associated with better verbal fluency in middle-old users and with greater positive affect in young and middle-old users. DISCUSSION Short-term memory, verbal fluency, and positive affect in middle-old age may contribute to resilience against online spear-phishing attacks. These results inform mechanisms of online fraud susceptibility and real-life decision-supportive interventions toward fraud risk reduction in aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Donovan M Ellis
- Department of Psychology, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Harold A Rocha
- Department of Psychology, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Huizi Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Sandeep Dommaraju
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Adam Soliman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Damon L Woodard
- Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Gary R Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Human Neuroscience Institute, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Daniela S Oliveira
- Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
| |
Collapse
|